From the Encyclopaedia Judaica 10:988
The first biblical reference to the “brook” Kidron occurs in connection with Davids ABsalm (II Sam. 15:23) In the time of divided monarchy, the reforming Kings of Judah, Asa, Hezekiah, and Josiah, cast away and burnt the various idols which defiled Jerusalem there (I Kings 15:13 ; II Kings 23:4, 6,12 ; Chron. 15:16 ; 29:16) Jeremiah included the Kidron within the area holy to the Lord (31:39-40)
In later times the central parts of the valley was called the valley of Jehoshaphat and was assumed to be the place the dead were resurrected. In this legend, as adapted by Muslims, all menn had to cross the valley on a sword suspended over it.
Word Translation
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- KidronFrom the Encyclopaedia Judaica 10:988 The first biblical reference to the “brook” Kidron occurs in connection with Davids ABsalm (II Sam. 15:23) In the time of divided monarchy, the reforming Kings of Judah, Asa, Hezekiah, and Josiah, cast away and burnt the various idols which defiled Jerusalem there (I Kings 15:13 ; II Kings 23:4, […]
- Ru’ah ha-Kodesh (name for God)From the Encyclopaedia Judaica 14:365 רוח הקודש A more problematical use of the term Ru’ah ha-Kodesh is when in some way hypothesized, or used as a synonym for God. This tendency toward hypostatization is already apparent in such expressions as “Ru’ah ha-Kodesh resting” on a person or place, or someone “receiving Ru’ah ha-Kodesh”. But it […]
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- ger toshavגר תושב Lit. ” proselyte settler” i.e., a Gentile who renounces idolatry to become a settler in Palestine. ger: “foreigner” or “alien” + toshav: “resident”,”resident alien” is a halakhic term used in Judaism to designate the legal status of a Gentile (non-Jew) living in the Land of Israel who does not want to convert to […]
- Baalim(From Easton’s Bible Dictionary) plural of Baal; images of the god Baal (Judges 2:11; 1 Samuel 7:4). Baal (/ˈbeɪ.əl, ˈbɑː.əl/),or Baʻal,was a title and honorific meaning ‘owner’ or ‘lord’ in the Northwest Semitic languages spoken in the Levant during antiquity. From its use among people, it came to be applied to gods. Scholars previously […]